Press release on helmet enforcement Campaign

Press release

Phnom Penh (November 7^th, 2008) In 2007, 1,545 persons were killed and another 7,150 were severelyinjured on the roads of Cambodia. The Road Traffic Accident Victim Information System (RTAVIS) Annual Report 2007 showed that during the last five years the number of fatalities has almost doubled. Cambodia has one of the highest fatality rates in the region, accounting for 17.8 fatalities per 10.000 registered vehicles..

More than 70% of casualties are the motorbike users, among them only 3% wearing helmet. 80% of motorbike fatalities suffer from head injuries, and more than 72% being considered as severe (coma).

These debilitating injuries are preventable, The World Health Organization (WHO) in their 2006 document “Helmets: a Road Safety Manual for Decision-makers and Practitioners” clearly prove that safety helmet can minimize the severity of head injury if it is used correctly. However, helmet wearing rates in Cambodia remain low. According to annual helmet wearing surveys conducted by Handicap International Belgium (HIB) and Ministry of Health (MoH), the helmet wearing rate has increased gradually. Since 2004, helmet wearing in Phnom Penh stood at only 8%, but it has increased to 24% by mid-2008.

While safety prevention is increasing among the public, the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), HIB and Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP)believes that achieving a higher rate of helmet wearing is critical in reducing the epidemic of head injuries witnessed on the roads of Cambodia. .

To effectively promote the helmet wearing enforcement nationwide, the NRSC in collaboration from HIB and GRSP is running a public awareness campaign in Phnom Penh from Nov 1^st to Dec 31^st, 2008. The campaign aims at increasing the awaress of road users on the following topics::

- Benefits of helmet wearing;

- Correct way to wear helmets

- Promote the habit of helmet wearing for for self safety; and

- Respect of traffic law

To further encourage students to wear helmets, the NRSC will also subsidize 2,000 helmets to students in 4 secondary schools in Phnom Penh – at 5 USD each or half the market price.

Furthermore, the education campaign will be closely linked to helmet wearing enforcement. Enforcing this component of the traffic law is a priority of the national traffic police and critical in reducing head trauma related to motorcycle accidents. The national traffic police have committed to enforcing the law in January 2009. To assist the Ministry of Interior and National Traffic Police to adequately prepare for these measures, HIB and GRSP have provided technical support to develop helmet enforcement strategies, as well as training on practical helmet enforcement procedures.

Linking road safety education with traffic law enforcement is the best strategy for achieving our common goal of reducing accidents, injuries and deaths on the roads of Cambodia.

for more info please link to road safety web